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THE STATES
Osun
Osun State government has set N4.5 billion aside, to ensure adequate development of technical and vocational education in the state.
The Osun State Commission for education, Science and Technology Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, said this at a speech presentation organized for schools and colleges in the state.
Adesiyan said already, about nine technical colleges in the state would be used as Attest case for various vocational educational advancement for total emancipation of the youths, adding that the state government is committed to the advancement, development of vocational and technical education in the state, in order to put the unemployed youths on a sound
footing.
Zamfara
Zamfara state special Adviser, Directorate for Rural Electrification, Alhaji Sani Rawayya, Wednesday said government has so far spent about N500 million on the purchase of transformers to boost power supply in the state.
Rawayya said the amount was used to acquire 100 units of transformers, saying the directorate has already received 50 units from the contractors and were distributed to various communities in the state.
He said already, the directorate has installed the transformers at Tsafe, Samaru, Filindem, Munehi, Tudun Wada, Unguwar Yarima, Gadabiyu while others areas will receive similar treatment adding that about 44 other electrification projects were in progress and have reached advanced level of completion.
Kaduna
Judicial workers in Kaduna State had their deplorable plight brought to the fare by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which declared them as the least paid in the country.
The association said the poor conditions of service of magistrates in the Kaduna State judiciary was unacceptable and urged Governor Namadi Sambo to redress their plight by increasing their salaries and other benefits.
NBA president, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), stated this recently as the Association national officers converged in Kaduna to consider vexed issues such as the professional fees charged by lawyers in the country.
At the opening of the third yearly conference of the legal practice section of the NBA tagged “legal practice changing times, changing strategies, “Akeredolu said it was not an enviable position for Kaduna state to be the least in the federation in terms of remunerations for its judicial workers, particularly magistrates.
To Samdo, Akeredolu said. “Our magistrates here are happy with you, but they want to be happier, I tried to collect data when I am coming to a particular state, and I found out that your magistrates are not well paid whether you like it or not, Kaduna is the capital of the North this is where the north started, so don’t lag behind.
“Do well for your magistrates and let other states copy you; you must show the light and let others now follow illuminate the path and let others follow you. I can assure them (the magistrates) that they will smile after his NBA conference.”
Taraba
At least one person have been reportedly killed and several others hospitalised following the protests that erupted in Ibi Local Council Area of Taraba over the non-payment of workers’ salaries.
The local council employees were said to have also accused the council chairman, Yakubu Agbaizo, of staying away from the council in Jalingo, the state capital or Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.
Apart from the death and injuries, property worth millions of naira, including a church was said to have been razed by the protesting workers.
The anger of the workers, it was leant, was ignited when the chairman, instead of payng the entire salaries owned them decided to pay only half of the salaries for the month of August.
On sensing danger, the chairman was said to have taken to his heels but was cornered by the workers, prompting sporadic shooting by policemen attached to the council headquarters.
The chairman, who at the time of filing this report was taking refuge at the nearby local council or Wukari police station, was said to have had a narrow escape.
Protests and complaint have recently emanated from many local councils in the state about the refusal of the council chairmen to pay workers’ salaries for over there months.
Ekiti
Following the ultimatum given by the Ekiti State of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the state government to pay September and October salaries of its workers or face industrial action, the state government has said that all allowances of the workers have been paid including their October salary.
The state government in a statement said all local government workers and primary school teachers were paid October salary last week.
The state commissioner for local government, Mr Femi Ige, who issued the statement, said the salaries of the council workers and primary school teachers paid gulped a total sum of N1.024 billion.
The commissioner described as self-serving the 14-day ultimatum issued to the government by the NLC for the payment of September and October salary of public servants in the state, saying; issuing an ultimatum salary already paid is not only ridiculous but self-serving.”
Ige said all local government workers and primary school teachers in the state have been paid up to October adding that, “the government will continue to take welfare of the workers and the entire people of the state as priority.”
The commissioner urged leaders of the NLC in the state to emulate the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) by assisting the government in realising its developmental goals instead of issuing ultimatum to the government on the payment of just one month salary arrear.
Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five suspected drug traffickers for allegedly swallowing 410 wraps of powering narcotic substances at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Interational Aiport (NAIA) Abuja.
According to a statement by the Head Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, yesterday in Lagos, four the suspects ingested 385 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine with a weight of 5.750kg, while one suspect ingested 75 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin with a weight of 1.3kg. All the suspects were caught attempting to extort the illicit drugs out of the country at the airport.
Benue
The Benue state university, Makurdi, has cancelled the aptitude test it conducted for the faculty of social sciences last weekend.
Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Paul Sorkaa, stated that the university management resolved to cancel the test for all prospective students of the faculty of social sciences, because the tests were marred by irregularities.
Sorkana has reiterated the determination of the university to, at all times, maintain high standards, stressing that it would not condone any attempt at fraud.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the cancellation at an interview recently.
Ogun
The Nigerian Union of Teachers, Ogun State wing, has suspended its seven week-old strike for two weeks, pending the outcome of the negotiation between the State Government and the Union.
The teachers had embarked on the action because of the inability of the state government to implement the 27.5 per cent new Teachers Salary Scale.
Also, government promised not to penalize any teacher(s) in the state for the role (s) played while the strike lasted. In a statement signed by Modupe Idowu, Information Officer, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made available on Saturday said, “consequent upon meeting held between the state government led by the Head of Service, Chief Dipo Odulate and NUT representatives, it was unanimously agreed to suspend the strike action for two weeks with effect from Monday, 9th November, to allow for the conclusion of the negotiation.
“That government will not penalize any teachers for their roles in the cause of the strike.”
Meanwhile the Chairman of the Union, Comrade Sam Idowu, had since directed that teachers in both primary and secondary schools in the state to return to classrooms with immediate effect.
Ibadan
What could have been a bloody weekend for the people of of Molete in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was divinely averted on Friday when a trailer carrying full load of sand rammed into a storey building, however, killing nobody.
The trailer, with registration number EDO XC 123 AUC, working for a construction firm handling the construction work on Queen Cinema — Molete Road avoided running over vehicles, traders and scores of passersby at Bode Market, in Molete, and instead, diverted to a building serving as vocational centre for the Nigeria Prison Services.
Mr. Okuwobi Oyekanmi Oluwafolajimi, a Senior Prison Assistant, who was on duty at the time of the accident, said it happened at 10.45 a.m. The vehicle, which had a brake failure, was coming from Challenge Area and when it was descending the Molete flyover, the driver, Mr. Gbolahan Timilehin, who was conscious of not running over the people and vehicles at the end of the flyover, swerved left and entered into the hall of the building used as tailoring workshop .
The building, serving as vocational centre, is used by the prisons for reformation of inmates that have served or serving their jail terms. The sewing machines in the hall were damaged and a staff the trailer met in the hall escaped unhurt. The driver, who afterwards became unconscious due to shock, was taken to Prospect Medical Centre and Maternity Clinic at Eyin Grammar in Molete.
Speaking on the hospital bed, the driver said it was God who helped him because the fear that he would run over the people gripped him and he had to divert the vehicle to the house which he saw was empty.
Taraba
The recent suspension of three government House workers for failing to attend the mandatory daily prayers for a period of time instituted by Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba sate has continued to raise dust in the state.
The workers, who included two female journalists from the state-owned media and an aide to the governor’s special adviser on security, were last week suspended for refusing to be part of the mandatory daily prayers initiated by the governor for both Christians and Moslems workers working in the Government House.
Suntai was said to have ordered their immediate suspension after going through attendant register for the Christians at the Government House Unity Chapel during one of the prayer sessions. Immediately after his assumption of office on May 2007, the governor enacted compulsory prayers for workers attached to the Government House to be observe by 8.00a.m, 12.00 noon and 4.00p.m. daily.
The mandatory daily exercise stressed that both faiths must strictly adhere to the policy by patronizing the Unity Chapel or the mosque both of which are situated in the Government House from Mondays to Fridays.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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